Tour De France legend Barry Hoban to give talk at Hepworth Wakefield

Barry Hoban

Tour de France legend Barry Hoban is to return to his home city next month to give a talk about his career.

Stanley-born Mr Hoban, 74, will be at The Hepworth Wakefield on May 15 where he will also talk about the world’s greatest cycle race coming to Yorkshire this summer.

Mr Hoban won eight stages of Le Tour de France between 1967 and 1975. He held the stage record for most wins by a Briton until he was overtaken by sprinter Mark Cavendish in 2008.

He said: “It’s going to be two explosive stages for the Tour de France here in Yorkshire but I think a lot of people are going to be in for a surprise. I keep seeing comments to say it is a reasonably flattish stage – the first stage from Leeds to Harrogate is not flat at all.

“There are some lumps in there that are going to hurt a lot of legs - it’s certainly not going to be an easy stage.”

The veteran cyclist, who lives in mid Wales, is still recognised as a legend of the sport. He was inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame in 2009 and was also awarded a Wakefield Star by the council last summer to mark his phenomenal achievements in the saddle.

Only last month he was invited to the Gent-Wevelgem Classic in Belgium to commemorate 40 years since he won the race.

He has witnessed the huge crowds on the Continent and believes the Tour will be a brilliant advert for the county.

He said: “They will turn up in their millions, it will be an amazing thing. It is a financial and economic boost. People won’t just go for one day, they will go a couple of days beforehand and ride up the iconic climbs and they will probably take a week off and that will be spent in Yorkshire.”

The former cyclist, who retired professionally in 1980, will expand on these themes during the event at The Hepworth when he will be in conversation with journalist and author Chris Sidwells.

To book tickets for the 7pm event, which cost £5, contact the Hepworth information desk in person, or on 01924 247360 or email hello@hepworthwakefield.org